England's National Anthem - What Should It Be?

[Fox92]

Anything is better than the current boring rubbish. No inspiration in it.

[Pliskin]

 

[David Hankey]

No need to change it.

[South Shire Fox]

Anything that actually talks about England and not the unelected free loaders is fine with me. Although Jerusalem mentions God so you’d still get the ‘its not my God’ brigade refusing to sing it

Edited 26 June by South Shire Fox

[Miquel The Work Geordie]

Finnegan chiming in with bloody War and Peace long posts because this is the one area the Welsh actually beat us in

[ozleicester]

 

[Scotch]

I'm too sexy by right said Fred. 

[New_Signing_Name Ole Ole]

Free Chang For You

[Lionator]

10 hours ago, Finnegan said:

The people that repeatedly call for Jerusalem know absolutely nothing about music. 

 

You'd still have the biggest dirge in sporting anthems. 

 

It's a kinda pretty song and yes it sounds OK being sung by a bunch of middle aged posh women at the proms. But it's not an anthem and it's not rousing.

 

Rule Britannia kinda works but I think it's fair to say the ship has definitely sailed on that. You're never getting away with adopting a patriotic, chest thumping, flag waving song as your anthem in 2026. Nobody would bat an eyelid if it was already your anthem (I mean half of Europe's anthems are about murdering their neighbours) but actually changing to it would cause way too much fuss. 

 

That said, this is a forum full of people that can't understand why When You're Smiling never took off like You'll Never Walk Alone so I don't know why I bother. 

 

Jerusalem captures Englishness more than any other song. It’s the only one that truly celebrates Englishness and not some regal, spiritual nonsense. 

[Finnegan]

6 minutes ago, Lionator said:

Jerusalem captures Englishness more than any other song. It’s the only one that truly celebrates Englishness and not some regal, spiritual nonsense. 

 

Come on. 

 

I wouldn't have said anything if you'd left it at "captures Englishness" because there might be something in that depending on your meaning. 

 

But celebrates Englishness? You didn't study English literature did you. 

 

Quite frankly, Blake would be horrified by it's being used for any sort of patriotic symbolism, he'd be horrified by the flag waving EDL sorts that'd latch on to it. 

 

But then he'd probably be even more horrified that it gets sung every year alongside Rule Britannia, Land of Hope and Glory and God Save the King in a posh hall full of Union Jack waving.

 

[Corky]

Something to the tune of Sloop John B.

[worthosoriginals]

Pistols

god save the queen.

 

[Trav Le Bleu]

 

Both rousing and honest.

 

Or possibly...

 

 

[MrsJohnMurphy]

 

[bovril]

1 hour ago, Lionator said:

Jerusalem captures Englishness more than any other song. It’s the only one that truly celebrates Englishness and not some regal, spiritual nonsense. 

NIMBY anthem no? 

[Lionator]

Just now, bovril said:

NIMBY anthem no? 

TRUE, but William Blake knew the essence of this country 

[bovril]

Just now, Lionator said:

TRUE, but William Blake knew the essence of this country 

Also maybe I'm misunderstanding your OP but it's very spiritual, if not regal. 

I do like it though, shame it's been a bit spoilt by drunkards watching inferior sports

[Kitchandro]

12 hours ago, Finnegan said:

The people that repeatedly call for Jerusalem know absolutely nothing about music. 

 

You'd still have the biggest dirge in sporting anthems. 

 

It's a kinda pretty song and yes it sounds OK being sung by a bunch of middle aged posh women at the proms. But it's not an anthem and it's not rousing.

 

Rule Britannia kinda works but I think it's fair to say the ship has definitely sailed on that. You're never getting away with adopting a patriotic, chest thumping, flag waving song as your anthem in 2026. Nobody would bat an eyelid if it was already your anthem (I mean half of Europe's anthems are about murdering their neighbours) but actually changing to it would cause way too much fuss. 

 

That said, this is a forum full of people that can't understand why When You're Smiling never took off like You'll Never Walk Alone so I don't know why I bother. 

 

When You’re Smiling doesn’t take off because our fans are shit. A good fanbase would easily make it work. Just like Leeds and Norwich make their awful songs work.
 

[l444ry]

 

[Leicesterpool]

God save the king is the british anthem. Doesn't feel right England and Northern Ireland aren't allowed to have their own anthem sang. Whilst Scotland and Wales are allowed. Jerusalem and Land of Hope and Glory sounds more inspiring and goes straight to the heart and brings pride. I have heard that Wills when he becomes king wants 'God save the king' no longer to be sang at sporting events.

[fazzyfox]

A version of the “Beadles About” theme, replacing “Beadle’s” with “England’s” and the “Seek you here / there” becoming “Beat you…”

It has an energy and Barmy-ness about it far more suited to the energy of Football than the current dirge (pardon me your highness, MBE still on mate?).

 

Watch out, England’s about

Watch out England’s about

You’d better watch out 

‘Cause England’s about

(Repeat)

We’ll beat you here

We’ll beat you there,,

England beats you anywhere,

So you’d better watch out,

’’Cause England’s about! (Dinner ninner ninner frantic piano ending)

WATCH OUT ENGLAND’S ABOUT!

[The Horse's Mouth]

Think I’m in the rare few that like god save the king, very simple hits every time and not too long. Jersulam is shit barmy army bollocks 

[Pliskin]

Anything that celebrates the royals wants binning. 

[CrispinLA in Texas]

Juresulem.... can't stand god save the king and Charles is 🤮

Edited 27 June by CrispinLA in Texas

[Grebfromgrebland]

Vindaloo or Park life